insects, and the fruit gardens, almost the whole die. Some few females escape the disasters of civil war, and the severity of winter, and in the ensuing spring become the founders of new empires, which are again to be overturned in like manner.

In describing the economy of this tribe, we have not allowed ourselves to adopt the term neuters. The general resemblance of structure which it bears to the bee tribe is so close, that there can be little doubt that such an anomaly no more exists among the former than among the latter and we trust that the indefatigable and very accurate Huber, to whom we are so much indebted for a real knowledge of the structure and economy of the bee, will yet pursue his investigations into the families of the vespa and formica; from both which it is probable he would as effectually remove the anomaly of a neuter gender as he has done from that of the apis. See the article BEE in this work. See, also, Nat. Hist. Pl. CLXXVIII.

VESPASIAN (Titus Flavius), a Roman emperor descended from an obscure family at Riete, and formerly a horse-doctor. He was honoured with the consulship, by his own private merit and his public services. He accompanied Nero into Greece, and was afterwards sent to carry on a war against the Jews. His operations were crowned with success; many of the cities of Palestine surrendered, and Vespasian began the siege of Jerusalem. This was, however, achieved by the hands of his son Titus, and the death of Vitellius and the affection of his soldiers hastened his rise, and he was proclaimed emperor at Alexandria. In the beginning of his reign Vespasian attempted to reform the manners of the Romans. He repaired the public buildings, embellished the city, and made the great roads more spacious and convenient. After he had reigned with great popularity for 10 years, Vespasian died with a pain in his bowels, A. D. 79, in the 70th year of his age. He was the first Roman emperor that died a natural death, and he was also the first who was succeeded by his own son on the throne. Vespasian has been admired for his virtues. To men of learning and merit, Vespasian was very liberal: one hundred thousand sesterces were annually paid from the public treasury to the different professors that were appointed to encourage and promote the arts and sciences.

VE'SPER. s. (Latin.) The evening star; the evening (Shakspeare).

VESPERS. S. (without the singular, from vesperus, Latin.) The evening service of the Romish church.

VESPERTILIO. Bat. Vampyre. In zoology, a genus of the class mammalia, order primates. Teeth all erect, acuminate, approximate; fore-feet palmate, formed for flying; a membrane surrounding the body. Twenty-five species, thus subdivided.

A. Fore-teeth in each jaw four.
B. Fore-teeth, upper four, lower six.
C. Fore-teeth, upper four, lower eight.

D. Fore-teeth, upper two, lower six.
E. Fore-teeth, upper two, lower four.
F. Fore-teeth, upper two, lower none
G. Fore-teeth, upper none, lower four.
H. Toothless in both jaws.

1. Number and order of teeth unknown. The animals of this genus fly abroad by night, by means of their expansile membrane; feed on moths, guats, and nocturnal insects; they are torpid during winter in cold countries, gathering together in dark caverns, adhering to walls, and hanging by the hind-legs: they have a remarkable additional sense of avoiding objects in their way when deprived of their eyes.

1. V. vampyrus. Ternate bat. Tailless; nose simple; membrane divided between the thighs. Three other varieties, from variation of colour; black or dark-red; brownish-black; or straw-colour. Inhabits the west of Africa, south of Asia, islands of the Indian ocean, and of the South sea.

Bats of this species have large canine teeth, four cutting ones above, the same below; a sharp black nose; large naked ears; and a pointed tongue, terminated by sharp aculeated papillæ. The exterior toe is detached from the membrane; the claw strong and hooked. There are five toes on the hind-feet, with talons very crooked, strong, and compressed sideways. They have no tail; the membrane is divided behind quite to the rump. The head is of a dark ferruginous colour; the neck, shoulders, and under side, are of a much lighter and brighter red. On the back the hair is shorter, dusky, and smooth: the membranes of the wings dusky. Some are one foot long, and four from tip to tip of the wings expanded; but others vastly larger. This species is not gregarious, though numbers of them at times meet accidentally on the same tree in quest of food; and being frightened, may chance to fly the same way in a flock. Two of the varieties are named rougette and roussette.

The rougette differs from the roussette chiefly in that its whole body and head are cinereous, mixed with some black; and that on the neck there is a great bed of orange or red. The size is also much less; the extent of the wings being little more than two feet. They inhabit the same countries, agree in food, but differ in manners. They are found in Guinea, Mada gascar, and all the other islands in the Indian ocean, New Holland, the Friendly Islands, the New Hebrides, and New Caledonia. The rougettes fly in flocks, and perfectly obscure the air with their numbers. They begin their flight from one neighbouring island to another immediately on sun-set, and return in clouds from the time it is light till sun-rise. They lodge during the day in hollow trees. Both kinds live on fruits, and are fond of the juice of the palm-tree, with which they will intoxicate themselves till they drop on the ground. They swarm like bees, hanging near one another from the trees in great clusters. In New Caledonia the natives use their hair in ropes, &c. They grow excessively fat at certain times of the

year. The Indians eat them, and declare the flesh to be very good. The negroes have them in abhorrence. Their bodies are from the size of a pullet to that of a dove. While eating, they make a great noise their smell is rank they are fierce, bite, and make great resistance when taken. They bring one young one at a time. The ancients had some knowledge of these animals. Herodotus mentions winged wild-beasts like bats, that molested the Arabs who gathered the cassia, to such a degree, that they were obliged to cover themselves all but the eyes with skins. From such relations, it is probable, the poets formed their fictions of Harpies.

Both the greater and lesser species are equally fond of human blood, Persons attacked by them are in danger of passing from a sound sleep into the sleep of death. The bat is so dexterous a bleeder as to insinuate its aculeated tongue into a vein without being perceived it then sucks the blood till it is satiated, all the while fanning with its wings, and agitating the air, in those hot climates, in so pleasing a manner, as to cast the sufferer into a still sounder repose. It is therefore very unsafe to sleep in the open air, or to leave open any entrance to such dangerous animals, in the coun. tries in which these exist. Nor do they con fine themselves to human blood: in certain parts of America they even destroy cattle,

The smallest variety has a head like a grey hound; large teeth; and long, broad, naked ears. The whole body is covered with soft short hair of a straw colour. It is near nine inches long: the extent of its wings two feet two inches.

It is to this species Linnéus refers the blood sucking bat or vampyre of the ancients; though the term, as a specific name, is given to the

next.

2. V. spectrum. Spectre. Tailless; nose funnelled; lanceolate: inhabits South America; like the former, lives in the palm-trees, and grows very fat: has a long nose; large teeth; long, broad, upright ears; a conic erect membrane at the end of the nose, bending at the tip and flexible. The hair on its body is cinereous, and partly long; the wings are full of ramified fibres: the membrane reaches from hind-leg to hind-leg. From the rump extend three tendons, which terminate at the end of the membrane. It is seven inches and a half long; extent of the wings two feet two: ugly, and deformed.

3. V. hastatus, Javelin bat. Tailless nose foliate, resembling a leaf of trefoil; large point ed ears; an erect membrane at the end of the nose, in form of the head of an ancient javelin. It inhabits the warm parts of America; is of the size of the common bat: fur cinereous.

4. V. soricinus. Leaf bat, Tailless; snout lengthened; nose foliate, hearted; small rounded ears; a membrane on the nose, of the form of an ovate leaf; and a web between the hind legs. Of the same size as the last fur mouse colour, tinged with red inhabits Jamaica, Surinam, and Senegal. In the first,

it lives in woods and caves, which are founĄ full of its dung, productive of saltpetre. It feeds on the prickly pear.

5. V. spasma. Cordated bat. Tailless; nose foliate, obcordate; very broad and long cars; a heart-shaped membrane at the end of its nose, and a web between the hind legs a colour of its face a very light red; of the body still paler. It inhabits Ceylon, and the isle of Ternati, one of the Moluccas,

6. V. leporinus, Peruvian bat, Tailed; upper lips bifid,

This species has a head like a pug-dog; large straight pointed ears; two canine teeth, and two small cutting teeth between them, in each jaw. The tail is inclosed in the mem brane that joins the hind-legs; and supported by two ligaments also involved in the membrane. Colour of its fur an iron grey; body equal to that of a middle-sized rat: extent of its wings two feet five inches.

There is a variety of this species with hang. ing lips like the chops of a mastiff: the nose, as well as upper lip, divided: long, narrow, sharp-pointed ears. A few joints of its short tail stick out without the membrane, which at the same time extends far beyond, is angular, and ends in a point; claws on the hind-feet large, hooked, and compressed sideways: membranes of the wings dusky, and very thin. Fur on the head and back brown; on the belly cinereous: five inches long: extent of the wings twenty. Inhabits Peru and the Musquito shore.

7. V. molossus, Bull-dog bat, Tail extending far beyond the membrane; upper lip pendulous. Two other varieties, from size and colour. Broad round ears, touching each other in front; a thick nose; upper part of the body deep ash colour, lower paler; the tail long; its five last joints are disengaged from the membrane: animal two inches long: extent of its wings nine and a half. It inhabits the West Indies; and has a near resemblance to the preceding,

8. V. nigrita. Senegal bat. Anterior part of the head yellowish brown; feet and tail black; long head; nose a little pointed; short and pointed ears; fur of a tawny brown, mixed with ash colour; belly paler; two joints of the tail free: four inches long; extent twenty-one,

9. V. lepturus. Pouch bat. Tailed; nostrils tubular; ears long, obtuse, valved; of a brown colour; an inch and a half long; inhabits Surinam, and has a small purse or pouch near the second joint of each wing.

10. V. hispidus, Bearded bat, Tailed; hairy; nostrils channelled; ears long, parrow, A small species. It has very long hair on its forehead and under its chin; its for is of a reddish brown above; on its under side of a dirty white tinged with yellow,

11. V. Noveboracensis, New York bat, Tail long; nose short, acute; cars short, round, Head shaped like that of a mouse, only the top of the nose a little bifid, two canine teeth in each jaw; a very long tail in

closed in the membrane, the upper side of which is covered with very long soft hair of a bright tawny colour: the belly paler. At the base of each wing a white spot: the wings thin, naked, and dusky: bones of the hindlegs very slender. Length ten inches and a half; tail near two; extent of the wings equal to the length of the body.

It inhabits North America, and is also found in New Zealand.

12. V. pictus. Striped bat. Tailed; nose simple; ears funnel-shaped, appendaged. In habits Ceylon. Wings striped with black, sometimes with tawny brown; two inches long. Its colour varies; the upper parts are sometimes of a clear reddish brown; the lower whitish.

13. V. cephalotes. Molucca bat. Tailed; head large; lips projecting; nostrils spiral; warts under the eyes; ears small, not valved. First described by Pallas; has a large head; small ears; thick nose; nostrils terminating outwards in form of a screw: tongue is covered with papillæ and minute spines: claw or thumb joined to the wing by a membrane: the first ray of the wing terminated by a claw. The end of the tail reaches beyond the membrane: upper parts greyish, or of a straw colour; belly of a dull white: three inches and three quarters long: extent of its wings about fifteen.

14. V. ferrum equinum. Horse-shoe bat. Tailed; nose like a horse-shoe; ears as long as the head, not valved; tail half the length of the body. Has its name from the membrane at the end of its nose: its ears are broad at their base, and sharp-pointed, inclining backward; it is cinereous above, whitish beneath three inches and a half long; extent above fourteen.

There is a less variety of this species; found about the Caspian: inhabits Burgundy; and has been discovered in Kent.

15. V. noctula. Noctule, or great bat. Tailed; mouth simple; ears oval, valved, valve small; nose slightly bilobated; ears small and rounded; a small wart on the chin, and hair of a reddish ash colour; length two inches and eight-tenths; extent of its wings thirteen inches. It inhabits Great Britain and France, and is very common in Russia; it flies high in search of food. There were taken under the eaves of Queen's college, Cambridge, in one night, a hundred and eightyfive; the second night, sixty-three; the third night, two. Each that was measured had fifteen inches extent of wings.

16. V. serotinus. Serotine. Tailed; yellow; ears short, thick at the edges; nose longish; hair brown on the upper part of the body: belly of a paler colour: two inches and a half long; inhabits France; and is also found beyond the lake Baikal: but has not as yet been discovered in any other part of the vast dominions of Russia.

17. V. pipistrellus. Pipistrel. Tailed; forehead convex; nose small; upper lip swells out a little on each side; care broad; forehead

covered with long hair; lips yellow; above a yellowish brown; below dusky. This is the least of bats, not an inch and a quarter long; the extent of its wings only six and a half. I inhabits France, and is common about the rocky and mountainous parts of Siberia.

18. V. barbastellus. Barbastel. Tailed; cheeks tumid, hairy; a sunk forehead, and long broad ears, touching each other at their base, which conceal the face and head when looked at in front. Nose short, and flatted at the end; the upper part of the body of a dusky brown; the lower ash-coloured and brown: two inches long; extent ten and a half: inhabits France.

19. V. murinus. Common bat. Tailed; nose, mouth, simple; ears less than the head; fur mouse-coloured, tinged with red: two inches and a half long: extent of its wings nine inches. It inhabits Europe, and is common in Britain: flies at night, feeds on moths, is the prey of owls; caught by the heads of burdock whitened and thrown into the air; when on the ground cannot rise till it has crawled to an eminence; torpid in the winter; revives in the spring; breeds in the summer. See Nat. Hist. Pl. CLXXXVI.

VESPERTINE. a. (vespertinus, Latin.) Happening or coming in the evening.

VESPRIN, an episcopal town of Hungary, capital of a county of the same name, with a castle. It is seated on the Sed, 19 miles W. by S. of Stuhlweissenburg, and 70 S.S.E. of Presburg. Lon. 17. 57 E. Lat. 47. 16 N.

VESSEL. s. (vasselle, Freneh.) 1. Any thing in which liquids, or other things, are put Burnet). 2. The containing parts of an animal body (Arbuthnot). 3. Any vehicle in which men or goods are carried on water. See BOAT and SHIP. 4. Any capacity; any thing containing (Milton).

VESSELS, in botany. Vasa-are, 1. Suc ciferous or sap vessels. Canals-commonly straight, and of a very small bore, for conveying the liquor, juices, or sap of the vegetable. These are called vasa (xur' iox¶) in Delin. Pl.

2. Utricles, or little bags; usually full of a green pulp, filling up the interstices of the vessels, and serving as reservoirs wherein the sap is lodged and perhaps secreted.

3. Air vessels. Traches. Spiral canals, usually of a larger bore, for receiving and dis tributing the air.

On this subject see the learned Grew's incomparable treatise on the Anatomy of Vege tables.

To VESSEL. v. a. (from the noun.) To pus into a vessel; to barrel (Bacon).

VESSETS. s. A kind of cloth commonly made in Suffolk (Bailey).

VE'SSICNON. s. (among horsemen.) A windgall.

VEST. s. (vestis, Latin.) An outer garment (Smith).

To VEST. v. n. (from the noun.) 1. To dress; to deck; to enrobe (Dryden). 8. To dress in